Retaining rack for shelves



April 16,1935. w c, FIRTH 1,998,22g

RETAINING RACK FOR SHELVES Filed Jan. 30, 1935 INVENTOR. WILLIAM C.FYRTH Iatented Apr. 16 1935 mamma- RACK non. SHELVES William'C., lifth,EastICleveIand', Ohio, assigiior to The T-Hold' ManufacturlngCompany, East" Cleveland. Ohio; a -c'orporatlon of Ohio mnatoamwj 30,.1933, saw No. 654,130

Heretofore a great deal of annoyance and 1i;nconi .venienee has beencausedbyobjects, which have ing" system ,ensues whichis. both annoyingand expensive" to remove. ,Very often similarexperiences are had bythose employing 'other types of.

shelves or, spaces used as shelves.

invention hasfor its chief obj cot; pros visiongof .a means forpreventing articles fromfalling from. shelvesorthe like- Another, objectis toprovide a device. ofthis type which can be attached easily tothe,shelf omwhieh ityis to; be: A r hes. obi st is; e-prov d a dev e. of

this kind that may be tote wall;.and.,l: ecome a shelfby theaddition ofa bottom either glass or other substantial material. A further object isto provide a device of this character which presents a neat andattractive appearance and one which can be manufactured inexpensivelyand at rapid rates of production.

With these and other objects in view, this invention, then, consists ofthe means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out inthe claims. The annexed drawing and following description set forth indetail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of the various mechanical forms in whichthe principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved retaining rack as applied to thecover of a closet tank. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation of the rackas shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is another elevational view as indicated at33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is another elevational view of the device only, asindicated at 33 of Fig. 2 with the addition of a bottom and shownmounted against a wall by the use of screws.

Referring now to the details of construction by reference characters ofwhich like numerals refer to like parts in the several views, the cover5 of the closet tank 6 represents the shelf herein employed. The rackshown thereon, which is the subject of this invention, contains the twobars 1 and 8, both of which are bent as indicated at 9 and I0 so thatthe end portions H and I! are disposed substantially at right angles tothe cener portions. At the ends I3 and [4 the rods are reduced diameter"as at tl and. M to form a shoulder... abutting against, the bosses orbulges."- l5 and arerivetedor welded to the anchor. plates l5,depressions I6 beingprovided-for the upset: portions caused by rivetingso as to present aflat surface for contacting with the wall H to which.the shelf ;or cover 5 is attached. As a space is usuallyprovided at 18,or, if notoriginally pros,

vided can be arranged for, the ends l-aofthe an chonplates I5 whosethickness isof the orderof one thirty secondof. an inch; have a spaceinto which they may project and thus are-held in close contact with thewall. Theends l land of bars- I and 8 to which these platesare attached,as above mentioned, are thus held in a fixed. relationship' with thewall H and shelf or cover 5... '1;

In order to maintain the :1 8 in: par-e allel. relationship with eachother, the rods 28 are; welded to these bars at intermediate usually thevicinity of the bends- 9 and ID. The, ends of these rods extend belowthe lower bar sufii ciently to maintain the bars in substantiallyparallel positions relative the surface of the shelf or cover 5 and withthe lower bar a little distance above this shelf or cover. The upperends of these rods 20 are provided'with balls 2| which serve as adecorative feature and in addition may be used as a support for lightobjects, such as towels, which may be conveniently hung thereon.

After the assembly of the rack has been completed by welding, or byriveting and welding, it is usually plated and polished. The operationsordinarily consist of first polishing the rough metal, plating withcopper, then bufling, and again plating with nickle and then withchromium after buffing the nickle. For a less expensive product a simplepainting or enameling finish is provided.

Anchor plates ii are provided with a hole 22 that the device may beattached to a wall by the use of screws or nails and by furthersupplying the device with a bottom 23 supported by rod'8 it becomes ashelf embodying all the protective features previously set forth.

Numerous modifications may be made in the device described such asincreasing or decreasing the number of bars 1 and 8 and in changing thenumber and form of the rods 20 as well as in the form and method ofinstallation of the anchor plates IS. A bent and formed piece of sheetmetal may be employed instead of the bars I and 8. Other modes ofemploying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of theone explained, change being made as regards the mechanism hereindisclosed, provided the means stated PATENT OFFICE v by any of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of aplurality of bars bent into U- shape, and relatively long and narrowfiat plates extending normally to and secured to the ends of said bars,a substantial portion of said'plates extending downwardly beyond thelowermost of said bars.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of aplurality of bars" b'en'tinto .U- shape, relatively long and narrow flatplates extending normally to and secured to the endsof said bars, andvertical reinforcing bars perpendicular to and secured to said bars, asubstantial portion of said plates extending downwardly beyond thelowermost of said bars. V

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of aplurality of parallel bars bent into U-shape,- and relatively long andnarrow flat plates secured to and'extending normally to the ends of saidbars, a substantialportion of said plates extending downwardly'beyondthe lower-- barsand vertical reinforcing bars perpendicular V to andsecured to said parallel bars. a Y

5. In a device of thecharacter' described, the

combination of aplurality of parallel bars bent in to U-shape relativelylong and narrow flat plates secured to and extending normally. to theends of said bars, a substantial portion of said plates extendingdownwardly beyond the lowermost of said barsand a plurality of verticalprojecting bars extending downwardly from and perpendicular to thelowermost of said parallel bars.

6. A rack for a toilet closet tank, comprising the combination of aplurality of vertically parallel spaced bars bordering and conformingsubstantially to the outer marginal contour of the top of said tank, andflat tongue-like portions extending from the ends of said bars, saidtonguelike 1 portions extending downwardly beyond the lowermost of saidbars adapted to be inserted behind said tank and to retain said bars inposition ginal contour of the top of said tank, and flat tongue-likeplates secured to the ends of said bars,

1 said'plates' having a downwardly extending portion adapted to beinserted behind said tank and 'to retain said bars in position abovesaid tank.

8. A rack for a toilet closet tank, comprising the combination of aplurality of spaced bars parallel to and conforming substantially to theouter marginal contour of the top 01 said tank; flat tonguelike platessecured to the ends'of said bars, said 3 'said tank; andverticplreinforcing bars perpendicular to and secured to said parallelbars, the

below said parallel bars.

9. A rack for a toilet closet tank, comprising a guard railingconforming to'the outer marginal contour of the top of said tank andpositioned thereabove, and flattongue-like plates secured to the ends ofsaid'railing, said plates having a downwardly extending portion adaptedwho inserted behind said tank and to retain said railing 40 .A

in position above said tank. g

